Joseph wants rookie to get more touches

Broncos running back Royce Freeman, left, evades a tackle by the Chiefs' Ron Parker during the third quarter Monday night in Denver. (Eric Lutzens / The Denver Post)

ENGLEWOOD — Royce Freeman's final carry Monday night arrived one minute into the fourth quarter with Denver leading Kansas City by 10 points. Is it a coincidence the Broncos lost with their powerful rookie running back on the sideline? Not likely.

But fear not, Broncos Country, as coach Vance Joseph laid out a public game-plan adjustment Wednesday that should surprise no one, and especially not the New York Jets on Sunday.

"I'm looking forward to getting (Freeman) more touches," Joseph said. "He needs more opportunities because he is playing good football."

That's a modest description for Freeman's first four NFL games. His 219 rushing yards rank No. 15 league-wide and are third among rookies behind only teammate Phillip Lindsay (267) and the Giants' Saquon Barkley (260). Freeman's three rushing touchdowns are also tied for most among those first-year running backs. And, Freeman's 10 carries of at least 10 yards are third in the NFL behind Dallas' Ezekiel Elliott (12) and the 49ers' Matt Breida (11).

The hitch in Freeman's stellar production, as noted through Denver Post game-charting against Kansas City, is his scattered carries. Freeman hit an 18-yard gain against the Chiefs and then didn't touch the football for six more snaps. He began a third-quarter series with a 6-yard gain, but failed to record a carry the rest of the Broncos' eight-play drive. Freeman mostly watched as Denver's 10-point lead drained away in the fourth quarter.

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It's certainly a change of pace. Freeman averaged 20-or-more carries in two of his four seasons at Oregon. He has checked in at 11 per game through four games in a Broncos uniform. But don't consider Freeman frustrated. Denver ran only 16 fourth-quarter plays on offense against Kansas City. Add in the urgency to keep pace scoring against a high-powered Chiefs' offense, and it led to a pass-first approach.

"The NFL changes week to week," Freeman said. "Being out there and playing the running back position, you always have to be prepared, and most importantly, on whatever the team needs that week."

What Denver needs in New York is a controlled ground game that takes pressure off quarterback Case Keenum to play hero. Freeman, despite a limited workload against the Chiefs, showcased the needed versatility to thrive. He broke multiple tackles at the line of scrimmage on his first carry, an 18-yard gain. Freeman also took a second-quarter sweep off right tackle, showed patience beyond his years to let his pulling blockers set and then bulldozed his way for a touchdown.

"He's a very powerful runner, he's patient and he's faster than people think," Lindsay said. "He brings something different to the table that shocks defenders."

Added Keenum: "(Freeman) is doing a good job of letting plays develop, especially with the scheme that we're running."

You don't need a decoder pen to decipher the Broncos' preferred method of scoring touchdowns this season. As Joseph explained Wednesday, "You watch how teams score, it's really in the pass game." If a fast start allows Denver to dictate the game plan late, then get ready for a new facet of Freeman's game yet to reach the NFL — punishing defenses on carry No. 20 in the fourth quarter with that stacked 6-foot, 229-pound frame.

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